Closure to paste tubes and other containers



, Sept, 1930. -w. e. CLARA CLOSURE T0 PASTE TUBES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 27, 1928 lNVENTOR Walter E? C ZQYQ BY. 6 M 3 -k' ATT liNaYs Patented 'Sept. 9, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WALTER G. CLARA, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN CLOSURE TO PASTE TUBES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Application filed August 27, 1928. Serial No. 302,358.

. This invention relates to sliding closures and relates particularly to sliding closures for paste tubes and the like.

An object of the invention is to form a sliding closure of spring sheet metal and to slightlyspring said closure from its natural shape in engaging itwith a container so that the resulting stress will hold the closure either opened or closed, and will press it firmly against the margin of the container outlet so as to tightly seal the latter.

Another object is to form the outlet slot of a tooth paste tube so as to impart to paste extruded through said slot the form of a longitudially corrugated ribbon, adapted to conform to the bristles of a tooth brush and thus lie more securely on the brush than a plane faced ribbon.

These and various other objects the invention attains by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a tooth paste tube equipped with the improved closure.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper portion of said tube, partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary e evational view l of the tube taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the sliding closure showing its form prior to engagement with the tube. Fig. 5 shows in perspective how the ribbon of paste discharged from the improved tube is adapted by its corrugations to lie securely on a tooth brush.

In these views the reference character 1 designates a tooth paste tube having the usual flexible walls adapting its contents for extrusion by pinching, rolling or otherwise collapsing the tube. The top 2 of said tube preferably has a thickness considerably exceedin g that of the side walls and is centrally formed with a slot 3 for discharge of the tooth,

paste. The longitudinal edges of said slot are correspondingly serrated as best appears in Fig. 1. While the serrationslthus formed may be of any desired number, it is preferred to form two such serrations upon each edge 5m so as to produce in the ribbonof paste 3" (see Fig. 5 extruded from said slot a pairv of V- shape grooves upon each side face of said ribbon for engaging the four rows of bristles which, as Fig. 5 illustrates, are ordinarily provided upon a tooth brush.

The exterior face of the tube top 2 is curved in a gradual arc, as best appears in Fig. 2, the direction of this curvature being preferably transverse to the length of the slot 3. A closure 4 formed of spring sheet metal or other suitable sheet material is engaged with said arcuate face of the top 2 to control the slot 3, and is formed in its mid-portion with an opening 5 which is preferably somewhat larger than the slot 3. In one limiting sliding position of said closure, the slots 3 and 5 register, as appears in full lines in Fig. 2, to permit discharge of the tooth paste. In the other limiting position of said closure (shown in dash lines in Fig. 2) an imperforate portion thereof covers the slot 3.. The two described limiting positions of the closure are established by downturning the end portions thereof as indicated at 6 for contact with opposite sides of the top 2.

The closure 4 is engaged with the top 2 by forming the latter with a wide, shallow groove, having its side edges angularly undercut to provide for their dove-tailed engagement by beveled side edges 7 of the closure.

retaining the closure in either of its limiting positions without requiring so snug a fit thereof-in the groove as to unduly retard It is desirable to adapt the closure to tightly seal the outlet 3 and to provide for what greater radius than the arcuate face of I the top 2, as best appears in Fig. 4, so that as it is-slid into the groove 7 it is sprung to a somewhat lesser radius, forcing it into sealing engagement with'the head and resisting any tendency to accidentally shift from either limiting sliding position.

A closure of the described construction is adapted to be produced very inexpensively, is'very simple of operation, is not rendered detachable from the tube or other container in being operated, and when closed is adapted to guite firmly seal the opening which it contro s. v

' While said closure is illustrated and described as applied to a tooth paste tube, it is 5 to be understood that the structural principles of the invention may be applied 1n adjustably sealing the outlets of containers of many difierent kinds and collapsibility of such containers is not an essential of the in r w vention,

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention here disclosed is Well calculated to adequately fulfill .the objects and advantages primarily stated,

it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims. 1

What I claim is z 1. In a device of the character described the combination with a container formed with an outlet opening in an arcuate face of the container, of a resilient closure for said outlet slidable against said arcuate face and formed with an opening registrable in one sliding position of the closure with said outlet, said closure having an original radius varying from that of the engaged arcuate face of the container and being sprung to an increased radius through its engagement with the container whereby the closure is positively retained under a spring stress in selective positions.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a container formed [with an outlet opening in an arcuate faceflof said container, said face being formed with a shallow groove extending in its direction of curvature, of a closure rmed of spring in sheet material engaging said faces of the container and dove-tailed mtosaid groove of the contalner, said closure having an opening registrable with said outlet in one sliding position of said closure, the closure having an original curvature less than that of the grooved face of the container and being sprun to conform to said face in the assem- My 0 the device, whereby said closure is positively held in its selective positions of so adjustment. I i- 3. A'tooth paste container formed with a slotfor the extrusion of tooth paste, said slot having an edge formed with a plurality of serratlons.

ms 4. A tooth plaste container having a slot forming a toot paste outlet, said slot havin its opposite edges correspondingly forme with a plurality of serrations.

tion.

WALTER G.

In testimony whereof 1 sign this specificav I 

